Thinking about buying a RX8

[DanM777]

You guys probably get this a lot I’m 19 and for a while now been looking at the RX7’s and RX8’s and have been thinking they are brilliant, never really worked on a car before but it’s something I want to get into, so few questions are, what’s the RX8 like to work on for a beginner? Do any of you use it as a Daily Driver? I know this place might be a bit biased but truthfully what are some of the negatives of getting a RX8?

Thanks in advance, Dan

[delta0]

First thing is it is not really a car for being a daily. It has a drinking habit and is going to cost you a lot of fuel on top of the high tax and (as you are 19) insurance.

However they are a fun car and easy to work on (although I lack space to do it these days). The forums are full of info to get you started. A few things to make sure you check and maintain are the ignition system otherwise that can fail and take out the cat and eventually the engine. Check the oil level every 1-2 fuel stops as it uses a small amount just to lubricate the inside of the engine. Compression, make sure the car you get has a compression test certificate that is recent and from a reputable place.

[Mherby]

As above, plus just bear in mind whilst the RX8 can be cheap to buy it isn't necessarily a cheap car to run (I know this is mentioned above as well with regards to fuel/tax etc, but seen a couple of people on here who have had them then can't keep up with the costs). Having said that, if you do get one I couldn't recommend joining the club enough, there is a lot of knowledge and help here.

[Dazza44]

At ur age I'd look at some insurance quotes before u comit to buying one,
Other then that,pretty much what the other guys have said .

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

[njkmr]

I would say easy enough to work on and learn about but as said above check it wont bankrupt you first .

[Dr. FrankenRex]

Don't wanna sound like a stuck record, but get an insurance quote first. So many young guys on here going "I've bought an 8 and they want £2,000 for insurance WTF?!".

Ultimately as has been said, also, is that they are cheap to buy but the running costs aren't great. They need frequent oil changes, and drink fluids of all kinds.

They are easy to work on and maintain, though, so that's a plus. Everything is (fairly) accessible and easily achievable by someone who has fairly basic engineering logic.

[acegeezer]

Mine has been a daily driver for nearly 6 years, wouldn't have it any other way.. just need a decent wallet, on the upside mine has been trouble free since 2014 apart from the inevitable modding that is a by-product of the RX8.. an irresistible force

[warpc0il]

Just to add to the warnings...

The RX8 doesn't do well on cheap tyres or cheap replacement ignition coils or exhaust cats, or cold air intakes.

Buy a car that needs quality replacements and it'll cost you more than you paid for said car, before you dare drive it; unless you want to be paying for an engine rebuild and/or ditch recovery.

These days, hidden body rot can kill a car faster than a sick engine, and costs more to put right.

Don't let that put you off, just buy with your head not just your heart.
The fact that you came here first is a great sign.
There are many members that are happy to go along with a prospective new owner and look at potential purchases (many located around the North East )

Adding your location to your profile may solicit some offers
https://www.rx8ownersclub.co.uk/forum/ucp.php?i=164

You'd also be welcome to come along to any of the local meets, to chat to owners and see their cars.

[Shagrington]

Hi and DanM777 and what they ^^^ all said.

[New Duke]

Hi.
If you need any help with insurance at all then please feel free to drop me a line.
Regards,
Dan.

[Dentist]

You guys probably get this a lot I’m 19 and for a while now been looking at the RX7’s and RX8’s and have been thinking they are brilliant, never really worked on a car before but it’s something I want to get into, so few questions are, what’s the RX8 like to work on for a beginner? Do any of you use it as a Daily Driver? I know this place might be a bit biased but truthfully what are some of the negatives of getting a RX8?

Thanks in advance, Dan

As I looked for a rx8 in past I can give you few general advice
GO for lowest milage you can find. sub 45,000 miles
stay away of the + 70,000 cars, try to find one as original as possible.
dont fool for aftermarket parts and heavily modified cars. best could be before 2006 models hence low tax almost half and 231 versions.
forget PZ or Kuro or Limited sh*t cause they been owned mostly by young rookies or if they having top nick they wont be on sale.
Ignore some cosmetic flaws and look for rust free one

this cars are not cheap to keep or run specially the rotary mafia in uk try to rip you off as much as they can
car with age is like old person if you know what I mean
and there is huge confusion over available information, in some parts it even make qualified mechanics lost !

[Ryan Rotary Performance]

this cars are not cheap to keep or run specially the rotary mafia in uk try to rip you off as much as they can

Just thought I'd put a selfie up

1535660748_Offer.jpg

[goodeggbob]

i must confess i am a little disappointed that my kuro is in fact sh#t, doubly so as i have two of them. and these remarks from an extremely well respected expert, to say i am gutted would be an under statement.

[Nickp47]

Always had you down as a young rookie Rob, now we know it to be true

[njkmr]

Ummm my Kuro was in top nick and its just been sold.

Not sure the Dentist got much correct in his advice ...!

I would then suggest if you want advice about RX8,s don't go to the Dentist...!

[acegeezer]

^^^ Ditto

[mi60o0]

Hah rotary mafia is very popular then due Spanish people sending their engines over here cuz we have good rebuild places

[GreySilver Beast]

It's always nice to find Experts on here who know what they are talking about

[acegeezer]

forget PZ or Kuro or Limited sh*t cause they been owned mostly by young rookies or if they having top nick they wont be on sale.

Thanks for this. Made me laugh on a Tuesday morning.

First time I've enjoyed one of your posts

[acegeezer]

forget PZ or Kuro or Limited sh*t cause they been owned mostly by young rookies or if they having top nick they wont be on sale.

Thanks for this. Made me laugh on a Tuesday morning.

First time I've enjoyed one of your posts

I haven't enjoyed any

[Mherby]

i must confess i am a little disappointed that my kuro is in fact sh#t, doubly so as i have two of them. and these remarks from an extremely well respected expert, to say i am gutted would be an under statement.

Likewise Rob, can't believe I spent all that money supporting the Rotary Mafia having the engine rebuilt on my PZ.

[Honkytonk]

Just to add my two penneth as a fellow new inductee to the rotary church compared to the seasoned veterans on here, here's what I found looking for, buying, and living with mine for the first 4-ish months;

Mileage isn't as important as the previous owner's care regimen. This car is the ultimate example of preventative maintenance costing you less in the long run. Oil changes, sparks, coils, etc. need to be of top quality to look after the engine. Similarly, all rebuilds are not equal. A recent rebuild can be worse than one that's done 90k+ miles on the original engine, particularly as rebuild warranties often don't transfer between owners. When looking, be on the lookout specifically for rust - be aware of it and keep on top of it if it appears. Get a good chassis if you can and get it sealed asap. Loads of guides on here to sort that out/where to look for it.

It will cost you. In insurance and tax for the post-2006 models for starters. Sometimes the wallet drain comes in dribs and drabs, sometimes in a big sum. You can look after one on a budget (most of us, including me, do), but be aware that can mean you have to leave it parked for a while before the funds are able to support 'the next thing' (Plenty will SORN it to avoid the taxman when it's not in a state to drive).

You can daily it, but they do chug fuel, particularly in urban driving. So just factor that in. Also they don't like being turned on and off quickly. So if you're like me and go to the shops on the way home from work (supermarket is just round the corner...), you might have to do a bit of idling or more driving than expected before getting out of the car to make sure it's up to temperature. I limit myself to 1 drive to work a week, mostly for fuel reasons...

To do work on, my knowledge is admittedly limited so far, but it's easy to access most regular items, and being sensibly Japanese there's consistent sizing of bolts etc. (you'd be surprised how rare that is...), most of the parts are readily available for cheap, there's the 'COUGH' amazing Owners club 'COUGH' that you should seriously consider joining for the technical manuals, discounts, and general camaraderie when a day's work goes south.

To live with, it's a fantastic car. Having those 2 extra seats makes it a legitimate practical car, with a decent boot. You can have a quiet, comfortable, nice cruiser or a screaming banshee depending which end of the rev range you sit. You can spend your entire day in 2nd gear if you want (I do now and then).

If you still want one, here's the 4 tips I took away from looking for mine;

1. Hot starts - Cold starts are easier fixes (normally service items), but Hot Starts are where the money's at (in that you'll have to spend plenty of it to fix the issue...). Once it's nice and hot, turn it off and on again and see how ready it is to fire up.

2. Rust - I.... didn't follow this suggestion perhaps as well as I should have. But look out for rust.

3. Cheap car does not equal bad car necessarily, as sometimes cheap ones can be saved with a couple of easy to source bits. But you have to know what you're looking for.

4. Talk to the owner about the service regimen/care the car's had. If they don't know about oil, coils,plugs etc., I'd walk away. Bought my PZ mostly based on the previous owners taking care of the engine properly.

[warpc0il]

Duncan is totally correct in this assessment of what to look out for, however, because of the idiosyncrasies of the rotary engine and the urban legends that surround it, *sometimes* it's possible to pick up a total bargain from an ill-informed seller.

Certainly before body rust became a significant factor we had members (both new and old) getting cars, sometimes even from used car dealers, that had "knackered engines" only to find an oily MAF or a couple of disconnected HT leads, or just simply flooded. Those cars went on to provide excellent service for many years despite their bargain basement price tags.

At least one of these was bought on the assumption that a rebuild would be required, and priced to match, which can also be a viable strategy even if you're not lucky enough to discover a trivial fault.

[Honkytonk]

Yup, there are definitely bargains to be had out there if you know where and what to look for!